Chapter 68: Emergency
and Disaster Nursing
Lewis: Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 10th Edition
When therapeutic hypothermia is used
postresuscitation, external cooling devices or cold
normal saline infusions are used to rapidly lower
body temperature to 89.6° F to 93.2° F (32° C to
34° C). Because hypothermia will decrease brain
activity, assessing mental status every 15 minutes
is not done at this stage. Sedative drugs are given
during therapeutic hypothermia.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
A patient with hypotension and an elevated
temperature after working outside on a hot day is
treated in the emergency department (ED). The
nurse determines that discharge teaching has been
effective when the patient makes which statement?
a. "I'll take salt tablets when I work outdoors in the
summer."
b. "I should take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if I start
to feel too warm."
c. "I need to drink extra fluids when working outside
in hot weather."
, d. "I'll move to a cool environment if I notice that I'm
feeling confused" - ANSWER -ANS: C
Oral fluids and electrolyte replacement solutions
such as sports drinks help replace fluid and
electrolytes lost when exercising in hot weather.
Salt tablets are not recommended because of the
risks of gastric irritation and hypernatremia.
Antipyretic drugs are not effective in lowering body
temperature elevations caused by excessive
exposure to heat. A patient who is confused is likely
to have more severe hyperthermia and will be
unable to remember to take appropriate action.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
A 22-yr-old patient who experienced a drowning
accident in a local pool, but now is awake and
breathing spontaneously, is admitted for
observation. Which assessment will be most
important for the nurse to take during the
observation period?
a. Auscultate heart sounds. c. Auscultate breath
sounds.
b. Palpate peripheral pulses. d. Check mental
orientation. - ANSWER -ANS: C
Because pulmonary edema is a common
complication after drowning, the nurse should
assess the breath sounds frequently. The other
information also will be obtained by the nurse, but it
is not as pertinent to the patient's admission
diagnosis.
and Disaster Nursing
Lewis: Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 10th Edition
When therapeutic hypothermia is used
postresuscitation, external cooling devices or cold
normal saline infusions are used to rapidly lower
body temperature to 89.6° F to 93.2° F (32° C to
34° C). Because hypothermia will decrease brain
activity, assessing mental status every 15 minutes
is not done at this stage. Sedative drugs are given
during therapeutic hypothermia.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
A patient with hypotension and an elevated
temperature after working outside on a hot day is
treated in the emergency department (ED). The
nurse determines that discharge teaching has been
effective when the patient makes which statement?
a. "I'll take salt tablets when I work outdoors in the
summer."
b. "I should take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if I start
to feel too warm."
c. "I need to drink extra fluids when working outside
in hot weather."
, d. "I'll move to a cool environment if I notice that I'm
feeling confused" - ANSWER -ANS: C
Oral fluids and electrolyte replacement solutions
such as sports drinks help replace fluid and
electrolytes lost when exercising in hot weather.
Salt tablets are not recommended because of the
risks of gastric irritation and hypernatremia.
Antipyretic drugs are not effective in lowering body
temperature elevations caused by excessive
exposure to heat. A patient who is confused is likely
to have more severe hyperthermia and will be
unable to remember to take appropriate action.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)
A 22-yr-old patient who experienced a drowning
accident in a local pool, but now is awake and
breathing spontaneously, is admitted for
observation. Which assessment will be most
important for the nurse to take during the
observation period?
a. Auscultate heart sounds. c. Auscultate breath
sounds.
b. Palpate peripheral pulses. d. Check mental
orientation. - ANSWER -ANS: C
Because pulmonary edema is a common
complication after drowning, the nurse should
assess the breath sounds frequently. The other
information also will be obtained by the nurse, but it
is not as pertinent to the patient's admission
diagnosis.
